Metabolic syndrome is a condition of abnormal blood pressure, blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist… which can lead to early onset of diabetes, cardiovascular disease.

People who participated in yoga class regularly are likely to have a lower risk of metabolic syndrome development, a renowned study suggested.

Yoga, the ancient technique for harmonized external and internal body well beings, through breath control, meditation, bodily movement and gesture… has been best known for people in Western world and some parts in Asia due to health benefits reported by various respectable institutes’ research and supported by health advocates.

According to the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, yoga, a form of physical activity that incorporates psychological components (e.g., maintaining attention, relaxation) may process a health benefit in alleviated risk of metabolic syndrome and improved mental stress and quality of life.

In a sixty-seven adults at risk for MetS enrolled (mean age [SD]: 58 [10] years; 50% male; 79% non-Hispanic White) in 12-week yoga program coupled with an evidence-based health education program (HED), in compared to HED alone, researchers found that participants in yoga program coupled with an evidence-based health education program (HED) showed a significant improvement of twice quality of life domains in compared health education group.

Dr. Sohl SJ, the lead author said, ” implemented lifestyle education along with yoga to evaluate the potential unique effects of yoga on participants at risk for MetS”.

Furthermore, in another 12 weeks yoga lessons of 173 Chinese men and women aged 18 or above either assigned to either the yoga intervention group (n = 87) or the control group (n = 86), after taking into account of other confounders, researchers indicated that yoga group showed a greater decline in waist circumference (p<0.001), fasting glucose (p<0.01), triglycerides (p<0.05), and MetS z score, in comparison to control.

Also, the yoga group expressed a significant improved general health perceptions (p<0.01), physical component score (p<0.01), and social functioning (p<0.01) domains score of HRQo with no difference in the enhanced systolic/diastolic blood pressures or high-density lipid protein cholesterol in both group.

Promisingly, the 2009-2012, 48-week randomized trial comparing restorative yoga vs. stretching among underactive adults with the metabolic syndrome at the Universities of California, San Francisco and San Diego of 180 participants randomized and 135 (75%) completed the trial, at 12 moths, suggested that yoga participants displayed a magnificent decrease of fasting glucose, insulin, and HbA1c and increase in HDL-cholesterol in compared to stretch group.

Taking altogether, yoga may be used as physical therapy in reduced risk and treatment of metabolic syndrome with greater effect in comparison to other forms of treatment in the article, but participants should always engage only to class tailored to their needs.